Blackburn Rovers

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Blackburn defender Charlie Olson will remain with National League side Altrincham until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old centre-back has had two loan spells with the Greater Manchester club during the first half of the season and will now remain at Alty until May.

Olson, who has been with Rovers since Under-12s level, has made nine appearances in all competitions so far this season for Alty, who are currently 10th in the National League.

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Blackburn Rovers have recalled midfielder Jake Garrett, activating a release clause in his loan deal at struggling League One side Bristol Rovers.

The 21-year-old initially joined the Gas on a season-long loan in the summer but has not featured for the side in any of their past five league games.

He made 11 appearances for the Bristolian club across all competitions.

A Blackburn academy graduate, his spell at Bristol Rovers marked his first senior outing outside the Lancashire club.

Blackburn Rovers host East Lancashire rivals Burnley on Saturday in one of three early kick-offs in the Championship (12:30 GMT).

Rovers have not won in four league games and have dropped out of the play-off places, but are level on points with sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion.

A win could see them move up to fifth but they will need to defeat a Burnley side that started the year with a goalless draw to stretch their unbeaten run to 12 league games.

• Blackburn Rovers have failed to win any of their past nine league meetings with Burnley (D4 L5), since a 1-0 away victory in the Premier League in March 2010.

• Burnley have won each of their last three away league games against Blackburn Rovers, with no team currently on a longer winning streak at Ewood Park as visitors.

• Three of Blackburn's last four Championship defeats have come at home, though they have not lost their opening home game of a calendar year since 2015 against Wolves, going nine unbeaten since (W4 D5) then.

• Burnley are unbeaten in each of their last six away league games (W4 D2), keeping five clean sheets in that period – the Clarets have conceded the fewest goals on the road in the Championship so far this term (5).

• Blackburn are winless in their last six league games against fellow Lancashire opposition (D4 L2), since beating Blackpool 1-0 in February 2023, while Burnley are unbeaten in their last 10 such games (W5 D5), since losing 2-0 to Preston in December 2015.

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Blackburn are set to be without Japan international Yuki Ohashi and could also be missing midfielder Todd Cantwell for Saturday's East Lancashire derby against Burnley.

Ohashi was injured in Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Leeds United following a challenge by Jayden Bogle that forced the striker to leave the field after 38 minutes. Cantwell missed that match through illness.

"Ochan [Ohashi] came off after about 20 minutes yesterday and has gone for a scan this morning. We're just waiting for his results," manager John Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I didn't think it was a particularly good challenge so hopefully it won't be too long for him to be out.

"It was very swollen this morning in the treatment room. I'd be very surprised if he makes the game.

"Toddy didn't train again today. He's been affected really badly by this virus so we'll see how he is tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see."

Blackburn are already missing defenders Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter and Harry Pickering and midfielder Lewis Travis, while forward Arnor Sigurdsson is facing a few more weeks out.

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John Eustace said the way the players and fans celebrated Danny Batth's late equaliser at Leeds bodes well for the rest of Blackburn's season.

The 1-1 draw at Elland Road means Rovers have gone four games without a win over the Christmas and New Year period, but they remain in the play-off six, level on points with sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion.

"You can see that bond we've got, that togetherness," Eustace told BBC Lancashire. "We're a very tight squad and we keep fighting, and that's what you need to be in the Championship.

"That's what I wanted when I came here. I wanted that connection with the players and the fans most importantly, and I think they've got that."

Eustace also confirmed that midfielder Todd Cantwell missed the match through illness.

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John Eustace urged his players to look forward to the promotion challenge of the new year rather than dwell on a surprise home defeat by Hull City.

The Rovers manager saw his side experience only their second defeat in the last nine games and told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's a really disappointing result.

"It was a difficult game and we created a couple of really good chances, but needed to be more clinical.

"It was never going to be pretty and then we needed to defend the box better in the second half. The lads kept going, and the attitude was good, so we move on to the next one.

"The effort the boys put in a few days ago [2-2 draw v Sunderland] was excellent, so it was a big ask, but it was the same for both teams.

"It's important we don't get too disappointed. The boys have been magnificent this year and we go into the new year in the top six, which is really exciting."

Andy Bayes
Sports Editor, BBC Lancashire

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What do Blackburn need in January?

Rovers need to add competition for places and perhaps a couple of players who are going to genuinely impact the starting XI for the second half of the season.

The feeling is that, against the odds, they could mount a serious challenge for a play-off spot if they can fill some gaps in the squad. Players who have gone course and distance in the Championship would be great but they come at a premium.

What sort of business are they likely to do?

Rovers are looking for a striker (who isn't?) during the window. Yuki Ohashi has played a long time without a break now, and Makhtar Gueye getting off the mark at Sheffield Wednesday in December will do him the world of good. But, can they get someone who might weigh in with half a dozen league goals or more for the second half of the season.

There is also a feeling that a little more pace in the side is on the wanted list for John Eustace. Potentially a left-sided player to add further competition for places.

Also, with a season long injury to Scott Wharton and a lengthy absence for Hayden Carter, another central defender could be an option. Dom Hyam has played every minute of every game this season, and it's a good job that he has with others missing.

How successful have they been in recent January windows?

Not hugely. No sooner had the window closed last January, former head coach Jon-Dahl Tomasson left the club.

Kyle McFadzean was the pick of who arrived last January but Rovers haven't had a new year window in recent memory that you've thought they've significantly strengthened.

High-profile registration errors have embarrassed them with moves for Nottingham Forest's Lewis O'Brien and Orlando City's Duncan Maguire falling through after the deadlines had passed.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

I don't believe so. I think had Hayden Carter been fit for the first half of the season, he could have attracted interest.

John Buckley and Arnor Sigurdsson haven't featured on the field as much as I'm sure they'd have liked to. It remains to be seen if both will remain at Ewood beyond January. Eustace certainly doesn't appear to be in a rush to lose them.

How important is the transfer window likely to be in determining the success of their season?

They won't be splashing the cash, that's for sure. I would imagine they'll have an eye on who is coming out of contract in the summer. Are there players in League One with talent who they can take up a level and give an opportunity to?

The feeling is that if Rovers are serious about a play-off challenge, the current squad could do with a little bit of help to give them the best chance possible. I think January is huge for Rovers.

Blackburn Rovers welcome Hull City to Ewood Park on Sunday as promotion hopefuls face relegation battlers.

An own goal proved the difference-maker between the two sides in Hull earlier this month, with Rovers the winners then.

Three points here would prove helpful to each club in different ways, with the Tigers currently 22nd in the table and fighting to avoid the drop while Blackburn are fifth and hunting for a play-off spot.

• Blackburn have only lost two of their last 13 home league games against Hull (W8 D3) but did lose 2-1 last season under Jon Dahl Tomasson.

• Hull City are looking to win consecutive league visits to Blackburn for the first time ever, with this their 32nd trip to Ewood Park in the EFL.

• Blackburn have lost their final league game in five of the last six years (W1), including a 3-2 defeat to Hull in 2023.

• Hull have won their final league game of the year in each of the last two years – they haven't done so in three in a row since doing so between 1981 and 1984 (4).

• John Eustace has won both of his away Championship matches against Hull City (one with Birmingham, one with Blackburn) but has lost his only home game against the Tigers, in December 2022 with the Blues.

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Blackburn boss John Eustace reiterated the importance of squad depth after substitute Harry Leonard rescued a point with his late equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Sunderland.

The 21-year-old forward fired home his first goal of the season in the 90th minute at Ewood Park, not long after replacing Sondre Tronstad as Rovers recovered from a 2-1 deficit.

"I think that's about the ninth goal from a substitute this season and that's a pleasing stat – it just shows we have to use our squad," Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Every member of the squad's very important. No matter who starts, the most important people on the pitch are those who finish and the substitutes are definitely making a difference.

"It's great for Harry Leonard. Obviously he's been out for several months and the way he's been working on the training ground, I'm really delighted he was in the right place at the right time to get the equaliser.

"He took it very well and I'm pleased for him, he certainly knows where the goal is. When we went 2-1 down, the lads never gave up and that's the most pleasing thing for me – we could quite easily have gone under."

Blackburn's defeat by Millwall at the weekend ended a run of six consecutive victories in the Championship.

Sunderland are one place above John Eustace's side but are six points ahead of them prior to the midway point of the season.

The Black Cats are unbeaten in their past four league games coming into the trip to Ewood Park.

• Blackburn have won three of their last five league games against Sunderland (L2), winning 5-1 in the most recent meeting in April.

• Sunderland won 3-1 at Ewood Park in the Championship last season – they last won consecutive league visits to Blackburn in September 1975.

• Blackburn Rovers have won one of their last 14 league matches on Boxing Day (D6 L7), beating Rochdale 2-0 in League One back in 2017.

• Sunderland have won three of their last four league games on Boxing Day, having lost four in a row between 2014 and 2017.

• Sunderland's Alan Browne has scored in four of his last five Championship appearances on Boxing Day, doing so for Preston in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023. Indeed, in Championship history (2004-05 onwards), only Jobi McAnuff has more Boxing Day goals (5).

Blackburn Rovers and Burnley want to sign former Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie from Spanish club Las Palmas, where the 28-year-old Scotland cap has spent just six months. (Sun)

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Blackburn manager John Eustace speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire after the 1-0 defeat at Millwall:

"I thought it was a really good afternoon for both teams. Conditions were very tough and the way the boys battled today was very pleasing. It is something we do week in week out and obviously disappointing to concede in the last minute.

"Obviously it was disappointing to lose [Lewis] Travis with 10, 15 minutes to go but I still felt very comfortable. I didn't think they would score and I thought the way the boys defended was excellent.

"It looks like Lewis has done his hamstring so we will have to get a scan on that tomorrow and Harry Pickering took a blow to his knee so we will have to have a look at that too.

"We played some good football today. We had two or three good chances in the second half which we didn't take. Overall I thought a draw was a fair result.

"I am proud of the efforts in the first half of the season and the run we have been on has been terrific. A lot of hard work has gone into it but there is going to be a lot of hard work going into the second half of the season."